“This Tree My Buddha”
He sits all alone in freezing rain for us all, this great stone Buddha. -- Issa (trans. Sam Hamill)* Through the rain, this tree my Buddha. * The Spring of My Life and Selected Haiku:
2025-08-15T13:49:26-04:00April 8, 2010|
“The Paintings in the Museum”
Look around at the paintings in the museum and ask yourself: Why were they created? Why do they exist? May they answer your Basic Question: Why was I created? Why do I exist?
“Three Chinese Gongshi”
In the room where I paint there are three Chinese gongshi, scholars' rocks, as a tribute and a remembrance to my Chinese painting guides, members of the literati, the scholar-painters. It is as if I am
“Verlaine Counseled Debussy”
Verlaine counseled Debussy that “nothing is more precious than half-light in which the undefined and the precise meet … What we want is nuance not colour – the nuance that weds the dream to dream.” Yes,
“Issa Wrote…”
Issa wrote that it does not matter what you say to a dead tree. Of course, not what you say, but Where it comes from. And, having photographed – that is to say, intimately related to
“With Apologies to Issa”
Give up the world of suffering! Come, come to your Muse of Love. I will help you along the way with instances of Beauty. with apologies to Issa (trans. Sam Hamill)
“Buddhas, Buddhas, Everywhere!”
We should be able to go into any art museum, look around and exclaim, “Buddhas, Buddhas, Everywhere!” Not just the paintings but, inspired by them, all the people. It has been said of Emerson that he
“To First Find Her Soul”
It could be said that if I first find my Soul I can then find my mother's – and others. Or, if I first find hers I can then find mine – and others. I prefer
“Scattered Flowers”
“Scattered flowers are gone forever.” -- Issa (trans. Sam Hamill) As, too, my paintings.
“To Know the Self”
To help the self to Know the Self is healing.